Rockford High School Newsletter
December 2016/January 2017 NEWSLETTER
Rockford High School 10-12 Building
Main Office: 616-863-6030
Attendance Office: 616-863-6032
Counseling Office: 616-863-6033
Website: http://www.rockfordschools.org/?i=HighSchool
Location: 4100 Kroes Rockford, MI, 49341
Phone: 616-863-6030
Rockford High School Freshman Center
Main Office: 616-863-6348
Attendance Office: 616-863-6352
Counseling Office: 616-863-6350
Website: http://www.rockfordschools.org/?i=FreshmanCenter
Location: 4500 Kroes Rockford, MI, 49341
Phone: 616-863-6348
From the Desk of the Principal...
It is amazing that our school year is now officially a third of the way completed! We appreciate your student's effort this week with Trimester 1 Final Exams and look forward to having a successful transition to Trimester 2. Continue to have conversations with your student regarding their school and personal life. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school. An open chain of communication is critical to the success of a student.
On behalf of the entire Rockford High School certified and support staff, we wish you and your family a happy holiday season!
Sincerely,
Dan Zang
Principal, 10-12 Building
Tom Hosford
Principal, Freshman Center
VISITORS
Dear Parents/Guardians:
During the past school year, Rockford Public Schools has been working on refining our volunteer system in attempts to make it a more efficient and thorough process. The volunteer support that we receive from our community in the classrooms, on field trips and at various other activities, is unmatched and we greatly appreciate all the assistance you lend.
Every year, Rockford school volunteers are required to complete a Volunteer Consent Form. The supplied information is then run through the Michigan Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) that determines public criminal history information. Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, the paper version of the Volunteer Consent Form was replaced with an online tool requiring volunteers to electronically submit their intent to volunteer and also to submit their approval for the ICHAT to be performed. The District has piloted this online tool, coupled with biometric scanners, at two buildings; Lakes Elementary and North Rockford Middle School. By Thanksgiving break, the rest of our buildings will be equipped with the biometric scanners as well.
If you or other family members are interested in volunteering in any capacity and at any time for the remainder of the current school year, please follow the detailed steps below. By completing the online Volunteer Consent Form, you are giving Rockford Public Schools permission to complete the ICHAT background check. In order to avoid overloading the system, please register at this time only if you intend to volunteer at, or attend a field trip for, one of the buildings during the remainder of the current school year. 1. Go to https://v2ms.rockfordschools.org (notice the “https”)
2. Click on the “Add User” icon on the right hand side of the screen
3. Enter your information to create your account (legal name is required – with proper spelling)
4. Log in after creating your account
5. Click on “Volunteering” on the top menu
6. Click on “Interests” on the left side to see all district and school options
7. Select your choices by clicking the check box(s) of the volunteer opportunities
8. Click the save button for each category when finished
Once the required information has been submitted, you will be able to confirm it when using the biometric finger scanner for the first time when you enter one of the school buildings (currently at Lakes Elementary and North Rockford Middle Schools and all schools after Thanksgiving break). After this initial registration, only a finger scan will be required to print your personalized volunteer name tag. One of two colored name tags will print: green for those cleared by ICHAT and yellow for those that have not yet been cleared. Please note that the information may take a few days to be cleared through ICHAT; therefore, if your name tag has printed in yellow, you will only be allowed access to certain parts of the building. In addition, please be prepared to show a valid Michigan Driver’s License to the office staff at the building in which you are volunteering.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at your convenience at 616-863-6554 or dvanderjagt@rockfordschools.org.
Sincerely,
Doug VanderJagt, Ph.D.
ATTENDANCE REMINDERS
If your student is absent or needs to arrive late or leave early to school please call the attendance line the day before or first thing morning of the absence and or appointment. Additional attendance policies and procedures can be found in the RHS student handbook.
RHS - 863-6032
RFC - 863-6352
NEWS FROM THE HEATLH ROOM
Health Room Reminders
Please inform the Attendance secretary what kind of illness is keeping your child home. The Kent County Health Department compiles information about illness in the county in order to stay on top of outbreaks and to attempt to prevent epidemics. Our Health Office sends the Health Department the numbers of students out with a variety of illnesses. If your child has the flu, please explain whether it is the gastrointestinal flu or the respiratory type, influenza. You may leave the comment on the attendance voice mail.
Except for emergency medications such as inhalers and EpiPens, all medication is required to be dropped off at school by a parent or guardian and stored in the Health Office. School personnel is responsible for dispensing the medication.
Rockford High School Happenings
RHS Parent/Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, January 18 - 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Thursday, January 19 - 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Both the Freshman Center and 10-12 Building will hold conferences on these dates/times.
Full days for all students.
Parent Advisory Council Meeting
Meetings are held 9:00am at the Rockford Freshman Center in the LGI
Dates for the 2016-2017 school year: 1/30, 3/6, & 5/1
RHS YEARBOOK
2016-2017 Yearbooks can be ordered on line at yearbookforever.com or in the main office at both the RHS 10-12 Bldg and the RHS FC. Cost is $65 until Dec. 16th, cost goes up to $70 effective December 19th through May 25th. No orders will be accepted after May 25, 2017. Checks payable to: "The Rams Tale". Any questions please contact Mr. Feeley at: JFeeley@rockfordschools.org
Winter is coming......
SCHOOL CLOSINGS OR DELAYS Check the school website at www.rockfordschools.org or tune in to your local TV or radio stations for school closings or delays.
STUDENT DROP-OFF/PICK UP
RHS 10-12 - Drop-off is in the senior parking lot.
RFC - Drop off is at the west side entrance; please do not ENTER through the EXIT on Northland Dr. or use the front entrance. DO NOT drop off students at the 4-way stop.
Students Traveling Between Buildings
TRANSPORTATION - BUS NOTES
Bus notes are only allowed in the event of a family emergency. Parents first MUST call transportation for verification of available space on the bus requested. Buses do not transport students to any other destination other than the students residence.
Cannnonsburg Ski & Snowboard Punch Pass
It’s time to purchase your Cannonsburg Ski &Snowboard Club Cards! Forecasters say it’s going to be a snow-packed winter, so take advantage of the prices and enjoy Michigan’s longest season! Money is due to Mrs. Ponne/RFC Rm #139 at the FC by December 8th. This year’s options are as follows:
11 years old + Including Parents:
10 punches $165.00
6 punches $125.00
7-10 years old Students:
10 punches $120.00
6 punches $90.00
All cardholders will always receive $15.00 Rentals
For further questions you may contact:
Amira Ponne/RFC at aponne@rockfordschools.org
HOLIDAY COLLAGE CONCERT
Holiday Collage Concert 2016
Friday, Dec. 9 @ 7pm
Saturday, Dec. 10 @ 7pm
Rockford Choir Christmas Concerts
Thursday, Dec. 15
6:30pm - Freshman Choir, Chorale, Advanced Women
8pm - Chambers Singers, Aces, Women’s Chorus
CLOSE UP CRAFT FAIR
Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016
9:00 – 3:00 at RHS 10-12 Bldg.
Great chance to do some Christmas shopping! Jewelry, clothing, photography, glasswork, painting, woodcraft, candles, candies, steel yard decorations, Christmas decorations, and much more. $1 Admission. Proceeds help send students to Washington DC to study our government.
Kent Career Technical Center (KCTC)
KCTC SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017
LATE START TIME – 9:40
1st & 2nd Sessions – Excused from KCTC
Attend classes at RHS
3RD Session – Attend RHS and KCTC
AFTER GRAD
Information about After Grad registration, forms & fundraising can be found on the RHS website & in the Main Office at RHS.
THE RAM SHACK
Stop by the Ram Shack for great gift ideas! RAM wear, fleece blankets, lanyards, water bottles, travel mugs and much more. The Ram Shack also sells schools supplies. Hours are 7am-2:30p or check us out online & place your order @ WWW.ROCKFORDRAMSHACK.COM
SPRING ATHLETICS
Spring sports include:
Baseball, Softball, Boys Golf, Girls Soccer, Girls Tennis, Girls Water Polo, Girls & Boys: Track, Lacrosse & Crew.
First Date of try-outs for ALL TEAMS is
March 13, 2017.
Note: Pre-season conditioning etc. may start prior to this date. Please contact the individual coaches for these schedules. Coaching Staff contact & try-out info can be found @ www.rockfordschools.org – HS Athletics.
Physicals are REQUIRED and must be submitted to the Athletic Office by March 8, 2017! Physical forms are available online and in the RFC & RHS Main Offices and the Athletic Office. NOTE: A current physical is one GIVEN on or since April 15, 2016.
Testing Out
Upcoming Dates - 2016-2017
Thanksgiving Break Nov 23 - 25
Close Up Craft Fair Dec 10
Holiday Break Dec. 19 – Jan. 2
Developing Healthy Kids Jan 11
Parent/Teacher Conferences Jan 18 & 19
Secondary late start @ 9:40am Jan 25
Mid-Winter Break-No School Feb. 20
Second Trimester Exams March 1 & 2
Half Day - dismiss at 10:55 March 3
Developing Healthy Kids March 20
No School March 31
Spring Break April 3-7
Secondary late start @ 9:40 April 10
Parent/Teacher Conferences April 26 FC ONLY
Parent/Teacher Conferences April 27 10-12 ONLY
Snow Make-Up or No School May 26
Memorial Day-No School May 29
Graduation June 6
Third Trimester Exams-half day June 7
Third Trimester Exams-half day June 8
Tentative Last Day-1/2 day June 9